“ How can I help being a humbug, . . . when all these people make me do things that everybody knows can't be done? ”
L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900). copy citation
| Author | L. Frank Baum |
|---|---|
| Source | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz |
| Topic | contradiction integrity humbug |
| Date | 1900 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/55/55-h/55-h.htm |
Context
“"Full of courage," replied the Lion, who went joyfully back to his friends to tell them of his good fortune.
Oz, left to himself, smiled to think of his success in giving the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion exactly what they thought they wanted. "How can I help being a humbug," he said, "when all these people make me do things that everybody knows can't be done? It was easy to make the Scarecrow and the Lion and the Woodman happy, because they imagined I could do anything. But it will take more than imagination to carry Dorothy back to Kansas, and I'm sure I don't know how it can be done."” source
Oz, left to himself, smiled to think of his success in giving the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion exactly what they thought they wanted. "How can I help being a humbug," he said, "when all these people make me do things that everybody knows can't be done? It was easy to make the Scarecrow and the Lion and the Woodman happy, because they imagined I could do anything. But it will take more than imagination to carry Dorothy back to Kansas, and I'm sure I don't know how it can be done."” source
Meaning and analysis
